How Tech is Revolutionizing the Business of Fashion for Latino Entrepreneurs

by Tina Trevino

Here are 3 of the top tech trends that are reshaping the fashion industry today

Fashion is no stranger to the fast pace of creativity and innovation when it comes to design, but these days it’s not only the aesthetic side of design leading the charge. Where once we saw the apparel business as the dinosaur and last in line to embrace technology, we are now seeing the tech side of fashion catching up and it’s driving some of the newest and exciting changes, transforming how we design, wear, and even experience clothing.

Here are 3 of the top tech trends that are reshaping the fashion industry today:

1. Sustainable Innovation

Sustainability is no longer just a trend, it’s a necessity. The fashion industry is notorious for its harmful impact on the environment, contributing to 20% of global wastewater and 10% of global carbon emissions. (UN Environment Programme)

With its reputation for excessive waste throughout the development process, over produced inventory of fast fashion and harmful dyes and chemicals, the business of fashion jeopardizes our planet in so many ways, but technology is helping to create a more sustainable future. From recycled materials, condensed product development life cycles, digital 3D fitting to reduce fabric waste throughout the sampling process, and on-demand garment production vs. large scale production, advances in technology are minimizing waste and developing more eco-friendly practices.

Industry leaders are looking for ways to build a more circular economy with less waste, less pollution, more reuse, and more recycling. By increasing your awareness about the impact of fashion on the environment, being more conscious about the brands and products you buy, and consuming less, you can contribute to a more positive future for fashion and the environment.

2. Smart Fabrics & Wearable Tech

Clothes are no longer just making us look and feel good in the traditional sense. It’s not enough for them to just showcase the newest aesthetic fashion trends coming down the runways of fashion week. They’re getting smarter by also including enhanced functions that can assist us throughout our daily lives. There are fabrics infused with sensors that can track health and fitness data.

Do you remember one of the original smart fabric examples from the 1980’s – Hyper color. This was a fascinating fashion trend of the era that involved mostly t-shirts and sweatshirts that changed color with heat.  Well, we’ve come a long way since then. These days fabrics have sensors with capabilities for temperature regulation, biomonitoring (heart rate, sweat levels), energy production, self-cleaning, and even color-changing based on your mood or environment. Some of the current challenges with this technology that still need to be overcome are battery life, integration and comfort, cost, and ethical considerations regarding data privacy and potential health risks.

The synergy of using these smart fabrics with wearable tech is becoming a new way of designing fashion. Seamless integration into garments is the future. This white space in the industry is rapidly evolving offering endless possibilities for personalized, functional, and futuristic fashion experiences. Smart fabrics and wearable tech fashion hold the potential to revolutionizing the way we dress, interact with the world, express ourselves and empower people with disabilities. It will be important to approach these advancements keeping responsible development and ethical considerations in mind.

3. 3D Printing & Customization

Imagine printing your own customized clothing at home. Well, it’s no longer a dream. 3D printing is making personalized fashion a reality, allowing for unique designs and tailored fits. This technology also opens doors for on-demand production and reduced inventory waste.

The traditional method of garment production has always involved significant fabric waste due to multiple pattern cuts throughout the design and fitting process and overproduction. The large-scale production cycle creates overstock and unsold items that end up in landfills.

With the customization of 3D printing, garments can be tailored to individual needs and preferences. The goal being to reduce unnecessary purchases and encourage buying for the long term instead of just for a fast fashion trend.

3D printing also allows for decentralized production. This can help to reduce the long-distance global transportation that contributes to greenhouse gas emissions impacting the environment, making manufacturing more localized.

3D printing technology still faces challenges in terms of sustainability, but it offers several potential benefits compared to traditional fashion manufacturing that make it worth exploring as a more sustainable option.

These are just a few examples of the exciting ways technology is transforming the fashion industry. As these trends evolve, we can expect even more innovative and personalized experiences that will redefine the way we wear and interact with fashion in the future.

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